The 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention

Paul Daniels

Paul Daniels is without doubt one of the most accomplished magicians in the world, and certainly one of the most exciting. Add to that a unique comedy style and you have a complete entertainer and one of the funniest men in show business.

His fame and achievements are not confined to the UK where he is a household name. The USA, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Spain and Japan have all recognised him as a world-class entertainer. He has starred in his own hugely successful West End theatre show, headlined in Las Vegas and Broadway, as well as performing more unique magic on TV than any other magician in history.

Paul's interest in magic began at age eleven when he read a book called "How To Entertain At Parties." He began performing magic as a hobby, later doing shows for fellow servicemen during his national service. After returning to civilian life he continued to develop his magic by performing in working men's clubs in the evenings while working at his grocery business during the day. It was while working clubs that he developed what would become his long running catchphrase, "You'll like this - not a lot, but you'll like it." He says that he came up with the line at a club in Bradford as a way to deal with a heckler.

In the world of TV no-one has enjoyed more success than Paul Daniels. From the moment he burst onto the TV networks his magic shows topped the ratings. A recent book on TV facts calls him the most successful TV magician of the 20th century. His creative genius enabled him to produce consistently stunning shows covering small, close-up effects to enormous outside broadcast illusions. The BBC One series "The Paul Daniels Magic Show" ran from 1979 to 1994 and regularly attracted audiences of 15 million in the UK, as well as being sold to 43 countries.

In 1983 Paul was presented with the prestigious Magician of the Year award by the Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts before a star-studded audience in Los Angeles. It was a tremendous achievement for Paul, and he was the first magician from outside the USA to receive the award. Two years later "The Paul Daniels Magic Show" won the Golden Rose of Montreux Award at the International TV Festival in Switzerland.

His TV career has not been limited to performing magic. As a presenter, he has hosted some of the most enjoyable game shows on TV. "Odd One Out," "Every Second Counts" and the highly rated "Wipe Out" have all had great success in the battle for viewers. There was also the wonderful "Wizbit" children's series, which featured a world of magic and wonder for the younger viewer. On radio, he was a BBC Radio 2 DJ for six months and for years presented a game show called "Dealing with Daniels." Always in high-demand as a celebrity guest on talk-shows, Paul's vibrant personality, love for magic and endless supply of stories and anecdotes from a lifetime in show-business make for riveting viewing.

He has designed special effects for stage and screen including "Cats," "Phantom of the Opera," the film "Return to Oz" and many more. He was also commissioned by the English National ballet to create magical effects for "The Nutcracker."

Despite all the success of TV, it is in the area of live shows that Paul's talent really shines. Be it in cabaret, theatre, outdoor stadium or the private homes of the rich and the famous, Paul Daniels' ability with magic and humour is always a winner. He has entertained many millions of people from all walks of life. With a reputation as one of the most popular society and show-business entertainers, Paul has appeared before The Royal Family, The Sultan of Brunei, The Sultan of Oman, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Barry White, John Major, The Duke and Duchess of Wessex, and countless others.

 

Click here for details about Paul's Masterclass on Friday 4th of June